HARQ Feedback Transmission in Unlicensed Spectrum

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face interference and congestion in unlicensed spectrum, particularly in sidelink communications, which affects the performance of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) operations, leading to reduced reliability and efficiency in device-to-device communications.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of enhanced HARQ feedback mechanisms that include channel access operations in unlicensed channels, allowing user equipment (UE) to determine optimal slots for HARQ feedback transmissions, thereby reducing the likelihood of channel access failures and improving system performance by increasing transmission opportunities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If HARQ feedback transmission is performed in unlicensed spectrum without channel access operations, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but channel access failures occur frequently leading to reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ feedback transmission reliabilityVSAvoidchannel access operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing channel access operations (such as LBT - Listen Before Talk) before HARQ feedback transmission in unlicensed spectrum. The UE determines whether the channel is available through channel access procedures prior to transmitting HARQ feedback, ensuring that transmission only occurs when the channel is clear. This preliminary channel assessment prevents transmission failures and improves reliability without significantly increasing complexity, as the channel access mechanism is integrated into the existing transmission protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple slots are configured for HARQ feedback transmission, then transmission opportunities increase, but channel contention and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ feedback transmission efficiencyVSAvoidchannel interference and congestion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by configuring multiple candidate slots for HARQ feedback transmission in advance, but only activating them when channel conditions permit. The UE performs channel access operations to determine which configured slots can actually be used for transmission. This approach increases transmission opportunities and efficiency while managing interference through selective activation based on real-time channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by making HARQ feedback transmission adaptive to channel conditions. Instead of fixed transmission timing, the system dynamically selects from multiple configured slots based on channel availability detected through channel access operations. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to increase transmission opportunities when the channel is clear while avoiding contention and interference when the channel is congested, thereby improving efficiency without exacerbating harmful interference effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If channel access operations are performed before HARQ feedback transmission, then transmission reliability improves, but transmission latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHARQ feedback transmission reliabilityVSAvoidchannel access operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing channel access operations in advance of actual HARQ feedback transmission needs. The system determines channel availability and prepares transmission opportunities before data requires feedback, so that when feedback needs to be sent, the channel access decision is already made or can be quickly executed. This reduces the actual latency impact of channel access operations while maintaining reliability improvements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics by adaptively adjusting channel access operation timing and duration based on channel conditions and traffic patterns. When channels are clear, simplified or faster channel access procedures are used, reducing time loss. When channels are congested, more thorough channel access operations are performed to ensure reliability. This dynamic adjustment balances reliability improvements with latency minimization based on real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230276490A1HARQ feedback transmission for sidelink communication in unlicensed spectrum
Publication Date: 2023.08.31 QUALCOMM INC
  • US20230276490A1 patent drawing
  • US20230276490A1 patent drawing
  • US20230276490A1 patent drawing

AI summary

In one aspect, a method of wireless communication includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a sidelink transmission in a first slot of an unlicensed channel The method also includes performing, by the UE, a Channel Access (CA) operation for a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback transmission in a second slot for the sidelink transmission, where the second slot is one of multiple slots configured for HARQ feedback for the sidelink transmission. The method further includes transmitting, by the UE, HARQ feedback transmission in the second slot based on successfully performing the CA operation. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.